Toddlers in movie theaters

How do you feel about babies/toddlers being in movie theaters? Would you take yours? What's the appropriate age to take your child?

My husband always tells me to take our daughter to the movies. She's only 17 months old and she gets fussy really easily. I always tell him no because it would be a waste of money and it would ruin the movie for other people. My sister in law took one of her infants to the movies and he was pretty quiet, and I guess Michael expects that of all children. I personally wouldn't want an infant/toddler ruining my movie. I don't care if it's meant toward children or not, most of the time the child get upset and starts running around or screaming/crying.

ETA-For toddler, I'm thinking up to 4 years old.

How do you feel about babies/toddlers being in movie theaters? Would you take yours? What's the appropriate age to take your child?

My husband always tells me to take our daughter to the movies. She's only 17 months old and she gets fussy really easily. I always tell him no because it would be a waste of money and it would ruin the movie for other people. My sister in law took one of her infants to the movies and he was pretty quiet, and I guess Michael expects that of all children. I personally wouldn't want an infant/toddler ruining my movie. I don't care if it's meant toward children or not, most of the time the child get upset and starts running around or screaming/crying.

There is no way I would take my 15-month-old to the movies. She can't even sit still or be quiet through an hour of church. We usually have to leave early. There's no way I'd expect her to do it in a dark, loud, possibly crowded movie theater.

There is no way I would take my 15-month-old to the movies. She can't even sit still or be quiet through an hour of church. We usually have to leave early. There's no way I'd expect her to do it in a dark, loud, possibly crowded movie theater.

If it's during a matinee, the crying kids don't bother me so much. But I rarely go during the matinee. If it's in the evening or a late show, it bugs the crap outta me. Dh and I recently went to a 10:30 pm showing of Captain America. There were at least two infants in there. Once they started crying, other moviegoers yelled at the parents to take the kids outside. The parents didn't budge. Someone summoned an usher, he got them to leave and everyone clapped. But imo, they shouldn't have brought kids to a movie that late.

If it's during a matinee, the crying kids don't bother me so much. But I rarely go during the matinee. If it's in the evening or a late show, it bugs the crap outta me. Dh and I recently went to a 10:30 pm showing of Captain America. There were at least two infants in there. Once they started crying, other moviegoers yelled at the parents to take the kids outside. The parents didn't budge. Someone summoned an usher, he got them to leave and everyone clapped. But imo, they shouldn't have brought kids to a movie that late.

Personally I don't think my son will really have the attention span to sit through a feature length film until he is at least school age. As an infant, I don't want him in at a movie at all because all those loud noises/bright flashes, etc cannot be good for his undeveloped senses.

If my husband and I want to see a movie, we get a babysitter. When our kid is old enough to get excited about a movie that is playing in the theater, then we will decide if he is old enough to actually go see it.

As far as other people's kids in movie theaters... as long as they aren't disruptive it is none of my business.

Personally I don't think my son will really have the attention span to sit through a feature length film until he is at least school age. As an infant, I don't want him in at a movie at all because all those loud noises/bright flashes, etc cannot be good for his undeveloped senses.

If my husband and I want to see a movie, we get a babysitter. When our kid is old enough to get excited about a movie that is playing in the theater, then we will decide if he is old enough to actually go see it.

As far as other people's kids in movie theaters... as long as they aren't disruptive it is none of my business.

In my town there are mom and baby theatre times where the lights are kept brighter and some commotion is expected. I've never gone, but it seems like a good option. Otherwise it's a choice between DVDs or babysitting.

In my town there are mom and baby theatre times where the lights are kept brighter and some commotion is expected. I've never gone, but it seems like a good option. Otherwise it's a choice between DVDs or babysitting.

We have been taking our almost three year old to kiddie movies for about a year. It is her little treat as she absolutely loves going to the "big scream" aka big screen. ; )

She is very well behaved there and actually sits quietly and watches the movie. If she were yelling or running around we would leave. Kids 2 and under are free so it wouldn't be a waste of any money if we ever had to leave.

I would never bring a baby to the movies. I just don't see the point in that at all. We took her when she showed interest in wanting to see the latest Toy Story and daddy thought it would be a fun date night for them to go together. Turns out she was great, loved it, and now it is a commonly used reward or treat for her when a new kiddie movie is out.

We have been taking our almost three year old to kiddie movies for about a year. It is her little treat as she absolutely loves going to the "big scream" aka big screen. ; )

She is very well behaved there and actually sits quietly and watches the movie. If she were yelling or running around we would leave. Kids 2 and under are free so it wouldn't be a waste of any money if we ever had to leave.

I would never bring a baby to the movies. I just don't see the point in that at all. We took her when she showed interest in wanting to see the latest Toy Story and daddy thought it would be a fun date night for them to go together. Turns out she was great, loved it, and now it is a commonly used reward or treat for her when a new kiddie movie is out.

Adult movies, never..there's no reason a child needs to be there no matter what time it is. A children's movie is fair game tho. You are not going to go to see toy story at the theater and actually expect it to be completely quiet in there..that is just unreasonable. Now I would never bring my kids unless I knew they would be decent, for my sake. I don't want to try to keep them calm and paying attention if they aren't interested. That's a waste of 9.00$ a ticket IMO.

Adult movies, never..there's no reason a child needs to be there no matter what time it is. A children's movie is fair game tho. You are not going to go to see toy story at the theater and actually expect it to be completely quiet in there..that is just unreasonable. Now I would never bring my kids unless I knew they would be decent, for my sake. I don't want to try to keep them calm and paying attention if they aren't interested. That's a waste of 9.00$ a ticket IMO.

We took DS to see Toy Story 3 for his first movie experience. He was 2 and a half. He sat quietly through the whole thing and loved it. Then at 3 years old we took him to see Tangled. Big mistake. DH and I ended up taking turns walking around with him outside of the theater. What a waste. I think it depends on the kid and the movie. He is really into Toy Story, so he sat and watched it. He didn't like Tangled and couldn't be bothered to sit for more than a few minutes.

We took DS to see Toy Story 3 for his first movie experience. He was 2 and a half. He sat quietly through the whole thing and loved it. Then at 3 years old we took him to see Tangled. Big mistake. DH and I ended up taking turns walking around with him outside of the theater. What a waste. I think it depends on the kid and the movie. He is really into Toy Story, so he sat and watched it. He didn't like Tangled and couldn't be bothered to sit for more than a few minutes.

It's dependant on the toddlers personality. Like u said, yours is fussy...so why do it? For me, if I'm taking my kids to a children's movie, I do expect it will not be quiet, that there may be some wailing now & then throughout the theater. Unless there is a full-on fit (and the parents should remove the child in that case), it wouldn't bother me at all. Children in an adult movie would b a whole separate issue...

It's dependant on the toddlers personality. Like u said, yours is fussy...so why do it? For me, if I'm taking my kids to a children's movie, I do expect it will not be quiet, that there may be some wailing now & then throughout the theater. Unless there is a full-on fit (and the parents should remove the child in that case), it wouldn't bother me at all. Children in an adult movie would b a whole separate issue...

Cinema near me (Odeon) has a parent and baby showing once a week at 10am. Sound is quieter and it's not as dark. You have to have a baby under one to get in. I'd take a baby to that. Otherwise probably not until they could sit through a kids film, maybe age 4. In the UK I don't think they would let you take a baby into other showings. They have age restrictions on films and some cinemas don't allow children in after a certain time. I wouldn't be happy paying to see a film and being disturbed by children crying.

Cinema near me (Odeon) has a parent and baby showing once a week at 10am. Sound is quieter and it's not as dark. You have to have a baby under one to get in. I'd take a baby to that. Otherwise probably not until they could sit through a kids film, maybe age 4. In the UK I don't think they would let you take a baby into other showings. They have age restrictions on films and some cinemas don't allow children in after a certain time. I wouldn't be happy paying to see a film and being disturbed by children crying.

Honestly, if I didn't have a fussy baby who was homebound for a year, I probably would have taken her to the movies.

I didn't go to an actual movie theater (went to drive-ins instead) until I was 4 and we had to leave right after the emergency/fire exit warning came on. I freaked out thinking that it meant there *would* be a fire. I feel like I had gone sooner, I wouldn't have been scared.

Honestly, if I didn't have a fussy baby who was homebound for a year, I probably would have taken her to the movies.

I didn't go to an actual movie theater (went to drive-ins instead) until I was 4 and we had to leave right after the emergency/fire exit warning came on. I freaked out thinking that it meant there *would* be a fire. I feel like I had gone sooner, I wouldn't have been scared.

I would take my son to the movies during the early shows. like 11:00 am. and I would make sure he had been feed really good. he's only 8 weeks now. when he's older if he can't sit still for long and becomes antsy probably not. and if he started to cry I would leave.

I would take my son to the movies during the early shows. like 11:00 am. and I would make sure he had been feed really good. he's only 8 weeks now. when he's older if he can't sit still for long and becomes antsy probably not. and if he started to cry I would leave.

I don't see why anyone would take a baby or toddler to the movies. You are taking a risk if your child starts crying, and then you have to get up and go outside and miss some or most of the movie you paid good money to see. I have a 9 week old, and I would not even consider it. It is inconsiderate, because if your baby does start to suddenly cry, that interrupts the movie for everyone else, even if you hurry outside. Just doesn't seem worth it for me.

I don't see why anyone would take a baby or toddler to the movies. You are taking a risk if your child starts crying, and then you have to get up and go outside and miss some or most of the movie you paid good money to see. I have a 9 week old, and I would not even consider it. It is inconsiderate, because if your baby does start to suddenly cry, that interrupts the movie for everyone else, even if you hurry outside. Just doesn't seem worth it for me.

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